John Calvin Commentary Psalms 30:12

"To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." — Psalms 30:12 (ASV)

That my glory may sing praise to you. In this verse he more fully expresses his acknowledgment of the purpose for which God had preserved him from death, and that he would be careful to express his gratitude properly to God. Some refer the word glory to the body, and some to the soul, or the higher powers of the mind.

Others, as the pronoun my, which we have supplied, is not in the Hebrew text, prefer to translate it in the accusative case, supplying the word every man, in this way: That every man may celebrate your glory; as if the prophet had said, This is a blessing worthy of being celebrated by the public praises of all men.

But as all these interpretations are strained, I adhere to the sense which I have given. The Hebrew word כבוד, kebod, which signifies glory, it is well known, is sometimes used metaphorically to signify the tongue, as we have seen in Psalm 16:9. And as David adds immediately after, I will celebrate your praise for ever, the context demands that he should particularly speak of his own duty in this place.

His meaning, therefore, is, O Lord, as I know that you have preserved me for this purpose, that your praises may resound from my tongue, I will faithfully discharge this service to you, and perform my part even until death. To sing, and not be silent, is a Hebrew amplification; as if he had said, My tongue shall not be mute, or deprive God of his due praise; it shall, on the contrary, devote itself to the celebration of his glory.